Protect and Defend

We must always remember that our government's primary responsibility is to protect and defend the American people and advance the interests of the United States.

Senator John Cornyn

A clear foreign policy strategy is critical as we face a growing number of threats to America’s national security. Senator Cornyn has consistently supported responsible intelligence gathering efforts and constructive diplomatic relationships with strategic partnerships around the world to ensure Texans and all Americans are safe here at home.

Cosponsored S. 94, the Countering Russian Hostilities Act of 2017, which imposes sanctions in response to cyber intrusions by the Government of the Russian Federation and other aggressive activities of the Russian Federation.

Introduced S. Res. 102 (115th Congress, 2017), a resolution which supports continued diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation between the United States and Mexico.

Cosponsored S. 474, which halts certain assistance to the West Bank and Gaza until the Secretary of State certifies that the Palestinian Authority has taken appropriate steps to end violence and terrorism against Israeli citizens.

Cosponsored S. 722, the Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017, which prescribes requirements for mandatory sanctions with respect to: Iran's ballistic missile or weapons of mass destruction programs, the sale or transfer to Iran of military equipment or the provision of related technical or financial assistance, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated foreign persons.

Introduced S. 1574, the Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act of 2017, which directs the President to: impose financial and immigration/entry sanctions on listed nationals of Vietnam who are complicit in human rights abuses committed against Vietnamese nationals, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Vietnam; and submit to Congress a publicly available list of individuals complicit in such human rights abuses.

Worked to include language in Trade Promotion Authority Legislation to require the President to make sure trading partners, including Vietnam, are held to high standards when it comes to protecting the rule of law and human rights.

Sponsored S.2857 (114th Congress, 2016), a bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain membership status for India in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Cosponsored S. 3138, the No Ex-Im Financing for Iran Act of 2016, which amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from guaranteeing, insuring, extending credit, or participating in the extension of credit in connection with the export of U.S. goods or services to any entity that does business with or provides credit or a guarantee to any other entity in connection with exports involving:

the Government of Iran, or an entity in which the Government of Iran participates,

an entity created under Iranian law, or

an operation in Iran

​Cosponsored S. 3285, the No Ransom Payments Act of 2016, which prohibits the President from using funds to make payments to Iran, to impose sanctions with respect to Iranian persons that hold or detain United States citizens, and for other purposes.

Cosponsored S. 2485, the North Korea and Iran Sanctions Act of 2016, which requires the President to reinstate immediately all sanctions against Iran that were waived or suspended by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (agreed to at Vienna July 14, 2015) if the Director of National Intelligence certifies that Iran has acquired, or is attempting to acquire, nuclear weapons technology from North Korea.

Cosponsored S. 2692, the Countering Warfare Act of 2016, which improves the United States’ efforts to counter propaganda and disinformation spread by Russia, China, and other countries.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and entities it owns in whole or in part,

Mahan Air,

Iran's support of terrorism,

Iran's human rights abuses,

certain Iranian individuals,

persons who conduct transactions with or on behalf of certain Iranian individuals, and

financial institutions that engage in certain transactions on behalf of persons involved in human rights abuses or that export sensitive technology to Iran.

Cosponsored S.Res.508 (114th Congress, 2016), a resolution expressing support for the expeditious consideration and finalization of a new, robust, and long-term Memorandum of Understanding on military assistance to Israel between the United States Government and the Government of Israel.

Cosponsored S. 2144, the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2015, which directs the administration to investigate the sanctionable activities involving North Korea and to apply sanctions and penalties as appropriate.

Cosponsored S.165, the Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act of 2015, and several amendments to legislation relating to the detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Gitmo), including:

a one-year prohibition on the transfer of detainees to the United States,

a permanent prohibition on the transfer of detainees to countries that have had detainee recidivism cases or that are state sponsors of terrorism, and

a prohibition on construction or modification of facilities at Gitmo using all U.S. government funds.

Co-founder and co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, a bipartisan coalition for Senators to work closely with Indian government officials and Indian-Americans to promote U.S.-India bilateral relations.

Cosponsored S.Res.225 (2013, 113th Congress), expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should establish a joint select committee to investigate and report on the attack on the United States diplomatic facility and American personnel in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012.

Cosponsored S.462, the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013, declaring Israel a Major Strategic Partner of the United States, authorizing an increase in U.S. defense stockpiles in and the transfer of surplus military equipment to Israel, and taking steps to include Israel in the visa waiver program.

Cosponsored S.1924, to require the State Department, Defense Department, and the Intelligence Community to report to Congress on information and intelligence sharing with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and member countries.

North Korean cargo and shipping, goods produced in whole or part by North Korean convict or forced labor, and foreign persons that employ North Korean forced laborers.

Voted for S. 1519, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 in the 115th Congress, which included an amendment authored by Sen. Cornyn that empowers the Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense siting clearinghouse to provide for greater pilot safety and helps preserve military readiness.

Voted for S. 2943, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 in the 114th Congress.

Voted for S. 615, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 to allow Congress to review any deal between the United States and Iran.

Voted for S.Res.65, a resolution to support the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran.

Voted for S.Res.154, a resolution calling for free and fair elections in Iran and condemning the widespread human rights violations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.